Liverpool's Victorian farm at Croxteth Hall Park will close after the summer holidays, the city council has confirmed.

Cuts to spending mean the attraction, which costs £200,000 a year to run, has won praise, including from the Prince of Wales, for its work with rare breeds of livestock.

The council is in consultation with the five staff at the park. The council say they are looking for an alternative operator to take over the running of the farm.

As for the livestock, thy are in talks with other farms and the Rare Breeds Trust about finding suitable homes for the animals.

The park is home to around 200 animals. Rare pigs, sheep and goats live on the farm and some of the rare breed cows include Gloucester, White Park Cattle, Red Poll, Dexter, Hereford and Highland Cattle.

Our source told the Echo: “Irish Moiled cows came in 1984. The farm played a big part in saving them and there have been 200 calves born there. There are 500 in the UK now.

“There are 17 rare breeds farms in the country and no others in the north west. Even Prince Charles got in touch several years ago to ask how the farm was getting on. He’s passionate about maintaining the rare breeds.”

A spokesman for the council said: "Owing to its budgetary position, in which it has to find £156m of savings, the council will not be able to maintain the farm beyond the end of the summer holidays.

"We are however looking to see if an alternative operator can be found to take on the running of the farm at no cost to council taxpayers.

"With regard to the livestock we would seek to rehouse them in other farms and are in talks with the Rare Breeds Trust about finding suitable homes for the rare breeds.

"We are consulting with all staff as part of the wider sport and outdoor recreation service review."